NFL rumors: Latest Panthers draft intel for the No. 1

Another day, another wave of rumors surrounding what the Panthers will do with their No. 1 overall pick. Here’s the latest draft intel.

Alabama’s Bryce Young. Florida’s Anthony Richardson. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. These three guys are the finalists in the running for the No. 1 overall selection, and the Carolina Panthers have roughly a month to weigh the pros and cons and make an educated decision.

While top authorities like Adam Schefter and Daniel Jeremiah have mocked Bryce Young to the Carolina Panthers at No. 1 overall, the most recent draft intel suggests that Young is far from a consensus pick.

Florida’s Richardson entered the chat after a strong showing at the NFL Combine, and at least one talking head believes that the Panthers’ No. 1 overall pick will be “very surprising” to the general public, insinuating that Carolina could take Richardson in April.

Richardson shares physical similarities with former Panthers first-round pick Cam Newton, albeit his record at Florida pales in comparison to his peers.

Panthers aren’t sold on Bryce Young and could pivot to Anthony Richardson, C.J. Stroud with No. 1 pick

Aside from Richardson, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud has been deemed by many as the the top prospect of this year’s quarterback class.

At Stroud’s OSU Pro Day on Wednesday, the Panthers are reportedly sending nearly a dozen representatives to watch Stroud in action, including the team’s general manager Scott Fitterer, head coach Frank Reich, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, and many others.

Stroud, a two-time Heisman finalist, could be considered the most advanced passer in the draft having racked up more than 8,000 yards and 85 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in the past two seasons.

The fact that Carolina is sending such a large congregation to see Stroud play likely indicates that the franchise is still mulling over its options and doesn’t have its mind set on one particular player. The Panthers got themselves into prime position to pick the best possible quarterback who will fit into the offensive scheme and the franchise’s future plans — trading for the No. 1 pick was easy, now they have to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work.